Illumination apparatus, and an illumination head and power source device used therefore

ABSTRACT

An illumination apparatus used by connecting an illumination head to a power source device, capable of supplying a rated current to individual light emitting devices of the illumination head by using a power source device of an identical rating irrespective of the specification of the illumination head, wherein the illumination head has a current detection resistor for detecting current flowing through the power supply circuit, and the resistance value of the resistor is selected so as to cause a voltage drop equal with a predetermined reference potential when a rated current is supplied to each of the light emitting devices, and the power source device is provided with a current controller for controlling the supplied current such that the potential for the voltage drop caused by the current detection resistor is equal with the reference potential.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention concerns an illumination apparatus used by connecting an illumination head in which one or more light emitting devices are connected in a power supply circuit to a power source device, as well as an illumination head and a power source device used therefor.

[0003] 2. Statement of Related Art

[0004] In illumination apparatus for lighting up a plurality of LED arranged, for example, in an illumination head, since the lightness is lowered when the current supplied to individual LED as light emitting device is lower than the rated current thereof, and undesired effects are given on the working life when the current is higher, power of the power source is set such that LED can be lit by the supply of the rated current.

[0005] For example, as shown in FIG. 3(a), in a case where LED 33, - - - each with a forward rated current of 20 mA are connected by the number of ten in parallel in a power supply circuit 32 of an illumination head 31, a current at 200 mA is supplied to the power supply circuit 32.

[0006] Then, the power source device capable of controlling the current supply in accordance with the number of LED to be lit such that a rated current can be supplied to individual LED 33, 33, - - - even when the number of LED 33, 33, - - - to be lit is changed in recent years (refer to JP-A-No. 2000-6466).

[0007] However, the power source device of the type described above controls the current depending on the number of LED 33, 33, - - - to be lit in a case of connecting a specified illumination head 31, and can not control the current in accordance with the specification in a case of using a power source device for illumination heads of different specifications.

[0008] That is, since the type of the illumination heads using light emitting devices such as LED are versatile and specifications of them such as the connection method of LED to the power supply circuit (for example parallel or series connection), the number of LED and the rating for individual LED are different on every illumination heads, this results in a problem that a power source device or a current controller has to be desired to be designed and manufactured in accordance with the illumination heads.

[0009] For example, in a case where the rated current for individual LED attached to the illumination head 31 is normalized as 20 mA, when LED 33, 33, - - - are connected in parallel by the number of ten as described above, it is necessary to supply 200 mA current to the power supply circuit 32. In a case where LED 33, 33, - - - are connected in series by the number of 10, it may suffice to supply 20 mA current to the power supply circuit 34, in a case where LED 33, 33, - - - connected by the number of 10 in series are connected in parallel by three rows, it is necessary to supply 60 mA current to the power supply circuit 35.

[0010] Accordingly, while the power source device has been designed in accordance with the specifications for respective illumination heads 31, if a power source device of an identical rating can be used irrespective of the specification of the illumination head 31, this can save the troubles of designing and manufacturing the device on every individual illumination heads 31 to remarkably decrease the manufacturing cost.

[0011] In view of the above, it is a technical subject of the present invention to use a power source device of an identical rating irrespective of the specification of the illumination head and which can light up individual light emitting devices of the illumination head connected to the power source device at a rated current.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The foregoing subject can be solved according to the present invention by an illumination apparatus used by connecting an illumination head in which one or more light emitting devices are connected to a power supply circuit to a power source device, wherein

[0013] the illumination head has a current detection resistor for detecting current flowing through the power supply circuit, the resistance value of the resistor is selected so as to cause a voltage drop equal with a predetermined reference potential when a rated current is supplied to each of the light emitting devices, and

[0014] the power source device is provided with a current controller for controlling the supplied current such that the potential for the voltage drop caused in the current detection resistor is equal with the reference potential.

[0015] According to the present invention, since the current detection resistor for detecting the current flowing through the power supply circuit is provided to the illumination head, a voltage drop is caused in the current detection resistor by the current supplied from the power source device to the power supply circuit when the illumination head is connected to the power source device.

[0016] In this case, since the resistance value for the current detection resistor is selected so as to cause voltage drop equal with a predetermined reference potential when a rated current is supplied to each of the light emitting devices, the potential caused by the voltage drop is lower than the reference potential when the supplied current is smaller than the rated current, whereas the potential caused by the voltage drop is higher than the reference potential when the supplied current is greater than the rated current.

[0017] On the other hand, since the power source device has a current controller for controlling the supplied current such that the potential for the voltage drop caused in the current detection resistor is equal with the reference potential, the device monitors the potential for the voltage drop caused in the current detection resistor, and conducts current control so as to increase supplied current when the potential is lower than the reference potential, decrease the supplied current when the potential is higher than the reference potential, and keep the supplied current as it is when the potential is equal with the reference potential.

[0018] Thus, a current capable of lighting up the light emitting devices at a rated current can be supplied to the power supply circuit irrespective of the specification of the illumination head.

DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an illumination apparatus according to the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment;

[0021] FIGS. 3(a), 3(b), and 3(c) are explanatory views showing an existent illumination head.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The present invention is to be described specifically by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0023] An illumination apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used by connecting illumination heads H₁ to H₃ to a power source device B in which one or more LED (light emitting device) 2, 2, - - - are connected to each of power supply circuits C₁ to C₃ for each of the illuminating heads H₁ to H₃.

[0024] LED 2, 2, - - - each at a rated current in the forward direction of 20 mA are connected by the number of 10 in parallel with the power supply circuit C₁ in the illumination head H₁, identical LED 2, 2, - - - are connected in series in the power supply circuit C₂ in the illumination head H₂. LED 2, 2, - - - connected serially by the number of 10 are connected in parallel by three rows to the power supply circuit C₃ in the illumination head H₃.

[0025] Further, current detection resisters R₁ to R₃ for detecting current flowing between a positive side power supply terminal 3 and a ground terminal 4 are connected each in series in each of the power supply circuits C₁ to C₃. The value for each of the resisters is selected so as to cause a voltage drop equal with a predetermined reference potential V₀ when a rated current is supplied to each of LED, 2, 2, - - - .

[0026] Then, the potential Vs for the voltage drop caused along each of the current detection resistors R₁ to R₃ is outputted from output terminals 5 and 6 to the outside.

[0027] For example, when a current at 200 mA is supplied to the power supply circuit C₁, a rated current flows through each of LED 2, 2, - - - in the illumination head H₁. When a current at 20 mA is supplied to the power supply circuit C2, a rated current flows through each of LED₂ 2, 2, - - - in the illumination head H₂. When a current at 60 mA is supplied to the power supply circuit C₃, a rated current flows through each of LED 2, 2, - - - in the illumination head H₃.

[0028] Then, when the reference potential V₀ is set as V₀=0.25V irrespective of the number and the specification of the LED 2, 2 - - - , the resistance value for each of the current detection resistors R_(1 to R) ₃ is: R₁=1.25 Ω, R₂=12.5 Ω, and R₃=4.17 Ω, respectively.

[0029] Then, when a rated current is supplied to each of the LED 2, 2, - - - in the power supply circuits C₁ to C₃, that is, when the current is supplied at 200 mA to the power circuit C₁, 20 mA to the power supply circuit C₂, and 60 mA to the power supply circuit C₃, the voltage drop caused along each of the current detection resistors R_(1 to R) ₃ is equally 0.25V.

[0030] The power source device B comprises a power source unit 11 capable of outputting a voltage sufficient to light up the illumination heads H₁ to H₃ using LED (for example, at about 12V to 25V), and a current controller 12 for controlling the current supplied to the illumination heads H_(1 to H) ₃.

[0031] Then, the power supply unit 11 is connected by way of a transistor 18 of the current controller 12 at the positive side power supply terminal 13 to the positive side power source terminal 3 for each of the illumination heads H₁ to H₃, while connected at the ground terminal 14 to the ground terminal 4 for each of the illumination heads H₁ to H₃.

[0032] Further, input terminals 15 and 16 of the current controller are connected with the output terminals 5 and 6 for each of the current detection resistors R₁ to R₃.

[0033] The current controller 12 comprises an operational amplifier 17 with a feedback circuit for comparing the potential Vs caused by the voltage drop across each of the current detection resistors R₁ to R₃ with the reference potential V₀, and the transistor 18 for conducting current control in accordance with the result of comparison.

[0034] Then, the input terminal 15 is connected with the forward phase input terminal 19 of the operation amplifier 17, and a reference potential V₀ is applied between the other input terminal 16 from the power source unit 11 and the backward phase input terminal 20 of the operational amplifier 17, and the output terminal 21 of the operational amplifier is connected by way of a load resistor 22 to the base 23 of the transistor 18.

[0035] With the constitution described above, the potential Vs caused by the voltage drop across each of the current detection resistors R₁ to R₃ is imputed to the forward phase input terminal 19, and compared with the reference potential V₀ by the operational amplifier 17, to output a negative potential when Vs<V₀ and output a positive potential when Vs>V₀ and is kept to 0 potential when Vs=V₀, and the base potential V_(b) of the transistor 18 changes in accordance with the output potential.

[0036] That is, in a case where the current flowing through the power supply circuit C₁ to C₃ is excessively small, since the potential Vs caused by the voltage drop is lower than the reference potential V₀, the base potential V_(B) is lowered by so much as the negative potential outputted from the operational amplifier 17 to increase the emitter-base potential V_(EB) and, as a result, increase the collector current I_(C) supplied to the power supply circuits C₁ to C₃.

[0037] Further, in a case where the current supplied through the power supply circuits C₁ to C₃ is excessively larger, since the potential Vs caused by the voltage drop is higher than the reference potential V₀, the base potential V_(B) is made higher by so much as the positive potential outputted from the operational amplifier 17 to decrease the emitter-base potential V_(EB) and, as a result, the collector current I_(C) supplied to the power supply circuits C₁ to C₃ is decreased.

[0038] Further, in a case where the current supplied through the power supply circuits C₁ to C₃ is appropriate, and a rated current is supplied to each of the LED, since the potential Vs caused by the voltage drop is equal with the reference potential V₀, 0 potential is outputted from operational amplifier 17 and the base potential V_(B) does not change. Accordingly, the emitter-base potential V_(EB) does not change as well and, as a result, the current value of the collector current I_(C) supplied to the power supply circuit C₁ to C₃ is maintained.

[0039] An example of the constitution of the present invention is as has been described above and the operation thereof is to be described.

[0040] At first, when the illumination head H₁ is connected with the power source device B, in a case where current I₁ flowing through the power supply circuit C₁ is smaller than 200 mA, since the potential Vs for the voltage drop caused across the current detection detector R₁ is lower than 0.25 V, the collector current I_(C) supplied to the power supply circuit C₁ increases. On the other hand, in a case where the current I₁ is higher than 200 mA, since Vs is larger than 0.25 V, the collector current I_(C) decreases. In a case of: I₁=200 mA, since Vs=0.25 V, the collector current I_(C) is maintained at that current value.

[0041] Further, when the illumination head H₂ is connected with the power source device B, in a case where current I₂ flowing through the power supply circuit C₂ is smaller than 20 mA, since potential Vs caused across the current detection detector R₂ is lower than 0.25 V, the collector current I_(C) supplied to the power supply circuit C₂ increases. On the other hand, in a case where the current I₂ is larger than 20 mA, since Vs is higher than 0.25 V, the collector current I_(C) decreases. In a case of: I₁=20 mA, since Vs=0.25 V, the collector current I_(C) is maintained at that current value.

[0042] Further, when the illumination head H₃ is connected with the power source device B, in a case where current I₃ flowing through the power supply circuit C₃ is smaller than 60 mA, since the potential Vs is lower than 0.25 V, the collector current I_(C) supplied to the power supply circuit C₃ increases. On the other hand, in a case where the current 13 is larger than 60 mA, since Vs is higher than 0.25 V, the collector current I_(C) decreases. In a case of: I₃=60 mA, since Vs=0.25V, the collector current I_(C) is maintained at that current value.

[0043] As described above, since each of the current detection resistors R₁ to R₃ in each of the illumination heads H₁ to H₃ is selected such that the resistance value causes voltage drop equal with the predetermined reference potential V₀ when a rated current is supplied to each of the LED 2, 2, - - - , LED 2, 2, - - - in any of the illumination heads H₁ to H₃ can be lit with an appropriate current by using an identical power source device D by normalizing and unifying the reference potential V₀.

[0044] In the foregoing explanations, description has been made to a case where the output terminal 6 for the current detection resistors R₁ to R₃ and the input terminals 16 of the current controller 12 are disposed separately from the ground terminals 4 and 14, the terminals 6 and 16 may be substituted with the earth terminals 4 and 14.

[0045] Further, the invention is not restricted only to a case where the current detection resistors R₁ to R₃ is connected in series with each of the power supply circuit C_(1 to C) ₃ but, as shown in FIG. 2, a fixed resistor R_(F) and a variable resistor R_(V) are connected in parallel with each other in each of the power supply circuits C₁ to C₃ and the potential Vs for the voltage drop caused between the variable terminal 5 and the ground terminal 6 of the variable resistor R_(V) may be outputted externally, to obtain similar effects.

[0046] Further, the number and the rating of LED 2 connected to the illuminating heads H₁ to H₃, and the method of connection with the power supply circuits C₁ to C₃, etc. are not limitative but optional, and they can be designed freely. Further, the light amount of LED 2, 2, - - - can be controlled when the potential V₂₀ applied between the input terminal 16 and the back phase input terminal 20 from the power supply unit 11 can be controlled to the reference potential V₀ or lower.

[0047] That is, when the potential V₂₀ for the backward phase input terminal 20 is set lower than the reference potential V₀, since it is judged as V=V₂₀ by the operational amplifier 17 before the current I₁ to I₃ flowing through the power supply circuit C₁ to C₃ reaches the rated value, the value of the current flowing through the power supply circuits C₁ to C₃ is maintained and, as a result, LED 2, 2, - - - are lit at a dark level. Further, when the potential V₂₀ for the backward phase input terminal 20 is returned to the reference potential V₀, LED 2, 2, - - - are lit at a luminance when the rated current is supplied.

[0048] As has been described above according to the present invention, since the current detection resistor is adapted to cause a voltage drop equal with the predetermined reference potential when a rated current is supplied to each of the light emitting devices, it can provide excellent effect capable of lighting up the light emitting devices of the illumination head at a rated current by monitoring the potential and controlling the current, by using a power supply device of an identical specification irrespective of the specification of the illumination head

[0049] The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-92203, filed on Mar. 28, 2003, the contents of which are herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An illumination apparatus used by connecting an illumination head in which one or more light emitting devices are connected to a power supply circuit to a power source device, wherein the illumination head has a current detection resistor for detecting current flowing through the power supply circuit, the resistance value of the resistor is selected so as to cause a voltage drop equal with a predetermined reference potential when a rated current is supplied to each of the light emitting devices, and the power source device is provided with a current controller for controlling the supplied current such that the potential for the voltage drop caused in the current detection resistor is equal with the reference potential.
 2. An illumination head in which one or more light emitting devices are connected to a power supply circuit, having a current detection resistor for detecting the current flowing in the power supply circuit, and the resistance value of the resistor is selected so as to cause a voltage drop equal with a predetermined reference potential when a rated current is supplied to each of the light emitting devices.
 3. A power source device for supplying a power to an illumination head having a current detection resistor for detecting a current flowing to a power supply circuit in which one or more light emitting devices are connected, and the resistance value of the resistor is selected so as to cause a voltage drop equal with the predetermined reference potential when a rated current is supplied to each of the light emitting device, wherein a current controller for controlling the supply current is disposed such that the potential of the voltage drop caused in the current detection resistor is equal with the reference potential when the illuminating head is connected. 